Electric clock-winding mechanism.



No. 832,747. I PATBNTED OCT. 9, 1906.

G. H. RUPLEY. ELECTRIC CLQOK WINDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14, 1905.

:tpesses lnv ntor. Geo) eHRu ley @W Atty 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 832,747 PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906 G. H. RUPLEY. ELEG'IEIU GLOQK WINDING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 14, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G lnveHnor;

gorge upley M Att No. 832,747 PATENTED 700T. 9, 1906.

v G. H. 'RUPLEY. ELECTRIC CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULYM, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 WitfiGSSQSL Inventor.-

D grams arnum EFICE.

GEORGE H. RUPLEY, or SGHENECTADY, NEW roRK.

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoncE H. RurLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New Ydrk, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Electric Clock vvinding Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to meansfor automatically winding clock mechanisms, and has for its object the provision of a means of this character whereby an electric current will be periodically utilized to effect the winding of the clock mechanism after a predetermined amount of the spring has uncoiled.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an electric clock-winding mechanism which may be connected with an ordinary lighting or ower circuit and which will wind .and rewin at stated intervals and will require no attention whatever.

A further object is to provide means whereby the clockmechanism will continue to operate for a definite period in case the electric. power should not be available when the time comes for the mechanism to be wound, arrangements being made whereby when the power does come on the winding mechanism will immediately start and take up the slack in the spring.

, A still further and very important object of this invention is to provide against the complete running down of the clock mechanism, since whenever this occurs the clock mechanism gets out of adjustment and the services of an expert are required to adjust it.

Broadly stated, therefore, my invention comprises the combination, with a clock mechanism, of an electromagnetic device which at stated intervals will wind the clock, but which should the power fail to come on will run for another interval and will then absolutely stop withthe circuit closed, so that when the power do as come on it will immediatelywind up the spring which has uncoiled during the second interval.

My invention further consists in the dc tails of construction and in the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this ap lication.

- the drawings}- Figure 1 is an elevation of a clock-winding mechanism embodying my Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 14, 1905. Serial No. 269,623.

ELECTRIC CLOCK-WINDING MECHANISM.-

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. I Fig. 3 is an end elevation of themechanism. Figs. 1 and 5 are details of certain. parts of the time mechanism. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 .6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuits. Fig. 8 is a perspective de- ,tail of the retaining-hook audits operating parts. Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the reserve-wind mechanism, and Fig. ,10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts shown in a position assumed while the mechanism is winding.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is an electric motor connected by a tram of gearing with the shaft 11, the motor being preferably geared down to the shaft, so as to drive it at a slower speed. I prefer to use an electric motor to effect the winding, though any other electromagnetic device might be employed. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 1.1 is the spring-drum 12, provided with a mainspring having its inner end fixed to the shaft and its outer end to the drum in a manner common in mechanisms of this character. The ear 13, mounted to rotate with the drum, drives the time mechanism,in the usual manner through gearing 14. The spring-drunr is provided with a long hub 15, which has a bearing in the clock-frame 16. Loosely mounted upon this hub is a slip-collar 17, having a projectingh portion 18, provided with a pin- 19, exten ng in a direction lon itudinally of the hub, so as to enga c with t e slotted disk 20. This disk is fixe y mounted on the hub and is provided with a V- shaped slot having radial sides 21 and 22, which limit the movement of the collar 17 with respect to the disk. Loosely mounted upon the hub and upon the opposite side of the diskfrom the collar 17 is another collar 23, provided with an elongated arm 22, having at its outer end a pin 23 for makin contact, as hereinafter set forth. This col ar 23 is spring-pressed in a clockwise direction by means of spring 24, one end of which is fixed to the hub and the other end to the collar at 25. I Adjacent to the spring 24 is a collar 24, rigidly secured to the hub 15. The shaft 11 extends beyond the end of the hub, and on this portion of said shaft is rigidly secured a hub 25, provided with two cams 26 and 27, which therefore rotate when the motor rotates the shaft 11 and winds the spring. It will be obvious from this construction that the parts mounted on the hub 15 will turn at I mounting said parts on an auxiliary shaft,

driven by reducing-gearings.

Mounted in the bearings 28 and 29 of the bracket 30 is a tube 31, provided with a setcollar 32, having a finger 33 extending upward and at right angles toward the frame.

'A coiled spring 34 presses against the collar 32 and bearing 28, so as to force the tube 31 toward the cam 26. A plunger 35 reciprocates back and forth in the tube and is also pressed, by means of a spring 36, in the direction of the cam. The plunger 35 has attached thereto a pin 37, which projects through the slot 38 in the tube. Pivoted at 39 to an extension of the bracket 30 is an arm 40. The rear portion of this arm is provided With a lug 41, which is engaged by the pin 37. This lug is provided with a camshaped notch 42, into which the pin 37 fits. The opposite end of the arm is formed into a hook 43, which is adapted to engage the pin 23 to latch it in place. As the plunger 35 is moved backward b engaging the cam 26, the pin 37 engages t e lug 41, depressing the hook 43 over the pin 23'. Sprin r 44 presses against the lug 41 to normally ho d the hook in a raised position. Mounted to reciprocate in a bracket 45, secured to the frame, is a rod 46, also provided with a set-collar 47 and spring-pressed by means of a spring 48 in a manner similar to the sleeve 31. Pivoted at 49 to this rod is an arm 50, which is pressed downward by means of the spring 51, secured to the collar 47 The outer extremity of'the arm 50 is of insulating material 52 and is provided with anotch 53, in the bottom of which is a contact 54 in electrical connection with arm 50. The pin 23 is adapted to enter this notch and close the motoncircuit at 54. Projecting laterally from the arm 50 is a stud 55, to which is secured an adjustable depending arm 56, which is engaged at its lower end 57 by the cam 27. The rotation of the cam thus raises the arm 50 about pivot 49 against the tension of the spring 51. The insulated portion 52 of the arm 50 is cut away at 58, so as to provide. an abutting shoulder for the pin 23 when it is not in the notch 53 and to prevent the arm 50 from moving forward. The arm, however, follows the pin forward as the latter is advanced by the time n'lecl'nmisni until stopped by collar 47. The finger 33 ol the collar 32 engages a projection, such screw 5f), on the rod 46,1noving it backward against the tension oi the spring 48.

The operation of the mechanism is as l'ollows: With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 the pin 23 is resting on the insulating materiahand the motor-circnit is therefore open, a windinghaving just taken place. As the clock mechanism runs the drum ]2 rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, carrying with it the disk 20. The collar 23, having thereon the contact-pin 2. ,follows the disk around, since it is being springpressed in that direction. The arm 22 by engaging the pin 19 presses it against the radial side 22 of the V-shaped slot of the disk 20, carrying the pin around, as shown in full cam 26 and forced backward, causing the pin 37 to engage lug 41 and. raise the same to depress the hook-43 over the pin 23, shown in the dotted. lines in Fig. 8. The arm 56 is then engaged by the cam 27, raising' the arm 50, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby disengaging the contact-pin 23 from the notch 53, breaking the motor-circuit. An auxiliary circuit, however, has meanwhile been closed through the cam 26 and plunger 35 through the metallic frame and conductor 60 back to the motor. The wo operations of depressing the hook 43 and raising the arm 50 may be simultaneously performed, it being "essential, however, that the arm 50 should. not be raised suiiiciently to release the pin 23 from the notch 53 until the hook 43 is depressed over the pin. It is also important that the circuit should not be broken at 54 until the auxiliary circuit is closed, between the cam and the plunger, and this is accomplished by so arranging the cams 26 and 27 that the former engages plunger 35 before the latter lifts the arm 50 away from pin 23 to break the contact at 54. After the arm 50 has been raised by meansol" cam 27 and arm 56 sufficiently to clear the pin 23 the linger 33 engages screw 5!) and carries the rod 50 backward against the tension of the spring 48, as shown in the dotted lilies in Fig. .10, so that when the cam 27 allows the rod 50 to descend the pin 23' will engage with the abutting portion of the insulating mathrial. The motor will contiune to rotate, driving the cam 26 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, until a complete revolutiim is accomplished. The cam 26 is cut away sharply at this point, so that the piunger 35 and thesleeve 31 are returned by their respective springs, the motorcircuit being broken, since the plunger no longer engages with the cam. As the sleeve 31 moves forward in response in the pressure of its spring finger 33 is carried forward from 125 screw 59, releasing the rod 46, which also moves forward in response to its spring 4-3, carrying the abutting portion forward until it engages withpin 23, as shown in Fig. 1,

and also carrying the notch 53 forward to a 1 0 position where it will again engage the in 23 when the latter makes a revolution. he

- notch will be in this position when the collar itration being one hour.

, 47 reaches the end of the bracket 45. This operation will be repeated atpredetermined intervals, depending upon the gearing oi the QlOCky-thQ period which I have chosen for illus- It oftentimes ha 1 pens, however, in lighting-circuits that tie current see for a eriod or time, and this fail- I ure of current is lia le to occur at the time when pin 23 will remain in the notch 53, thereby closing the motor-circuit, so'that the motor will be in readiness to start when the current The time-train operates, car rying with it the disk and the pin 19 against the increasing. tension of the spring 24 If at any time during this period the current should come on, the motor will start and rotate the earns 26 and 27. The hook 43 Will be depressed by means of cam 26, pluner 35, pin 37, and lug 41, and the arm 50 will be raised through cam 27 and arm 56.. When the shaft 11 and the cams 2.6 and 27 attached I thereto have made a complete revolution,

the hook 43 will be raised. and the arm 22 i will be free to respond to its spring tension and rotate until it reaches the stop-pin 19, whichhas reached an intermediate point, de-

a pending upon the length of time the mechanism' has run before the motorstarts. The

clock then continuing to run, another winding will take place as soon as the pin 23 reaches the notch 53. If,-however, the'current fails to come on durin 'ithe entire period, the clock mechanism wil continue to run; but when the pin 19 reachesarm 22, which is locked in notch 53, the mechanism will be-' I positively stopped. I Theobject of the latching-hook 43 is to prevent the clock from runnin down incase the current should go off during the windin -up operation, at which time the arm 50 ein'g: raised the arm 22 would not be s'toppedat the end of its period, and therefore the 19 would continueto rotate until the spring had entirely uncoiled.

3 This feature would be very objectionable,

since it would necessitate a manual winding and the adjustment of the mechanism by an expert. Themotor connections are as follows: One terminal is'grounded in the mechanism by means of conductor 60, connected with any,

convenient portion of the mechanism-as, for instance, bracket 30, insulated from the clock-frame 16 by insulating-block 30. The other terminal is conveniently connected with shaft 11, likewise insulated from the clock-frame b means of insulating-sleeve 16. The circuit will thus be closed from shaft 11 through the mechanism either by means of pin 23 and contact 54 or cam 26 and plunger '35, the arm 56, which would be the only other path of the current, being insulated from the shaft by means of insulated cam 27.- It will thus be seen that I have provided a mechanism which will be automatically wound at predetermined intervals by simply making connections with the ordinary lighting or power circuit, that the mechanism can never absolutely run down, that provision is made against the failure of current for a definite time, and that the motor-circuit is always closed at the time when the motor is supposed to be wound, regardless of whether the current is on or oif.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with clock, mechanism, of means for automatically winding the same comprising an electric motor, means for closing the circuit of said motor to wind said mechanism after a predetermined amount of spring is uncoiled, means whereby said spring further uncoils a predetermined amount to drive said clock mechanism upon the failure of said moto gto o crate, and means whereby the energy expended by the said further uncoil is immediately restored when the motor operates.

2. The combination with clock mechan ism, or means for automatically winding the same comprising an electric motor, means for periodical y closing the motor-circuit tov wind said mechanism, means for o crating said mechanism fora predetermine period after the expiration of said first period upon the failure oi'said winding means to operate, and means whereby said motor is causedit'o tostore the energy expended during said latter period immediately upon the starting up of the motor.

,3. The combination with a clock mechanism, and a mainspring therefor, of means for automatically winding the same com rising an electric motor, means for closing t e mo- -tor-circuit after a predetermined amount Oferio uncoil oiisaid mains ring to rewind the same, means whereby sal SpI'lDgJS-IIIIGOllfid a fur:

ther predetermined amount to actuate said clock mechanism u on the failure of said motor to o erate, an means whereby thetaking up 0 all of the'slack in said spring. due to said second uncoiling is effected immediately upon the starting-up of the motor.

4. The combination with clock mechanism, of winding mechanism therefor including an electric motor, contact-terminals 'for closing said motor-circuit at predetermined intervals, one of which terminals is carried by said clock mechanism, means whereby the motor-circuit isopened at said terminals upon the starting of the motor and simultaneously closed independently of the clock vmechanism, and means whereby the latter circuit is broken art-er a predetermined movement of sand wlndmg mechamsm.

starting of the motor and simultaneouslyclosed independently of the clock mechanism, and means whereby the latter circuit is broken after a predetermined movement of said winding mechanism.

6. The combination with clock nechanism, of winding mechanism thereto including an electric motor, contact-terminals for closing said motor-circuit at predetermined intervals, one of which terminals is carried by said clock mechanism and yieldingly connected therewith and the other carried by said winding mechanism, means whereby the motor-circuit is opened at said terminals upon the starting of the motor and simultaneously .closed independently of the clock mechanism, and means whereby the latter circuit is broken after a predetermined movement of said winding mechanism.

7. The combination with clock mechanism, of winding mechanism therefor including an electric motor, contact-terminals for closing said motor-circuit at predetermined intervals, a yielding driving connection between said clock mechanism and one of said terminals, means for locking said terminals in contact during the operation of said clock mechanism, and means ("(H'll-lOllOtl by said winding mechanism for releasing said terminals.

S. The combination with clock mechanism, oi" winding mechanism therelor including' an electric motor, coi'itact-terminals for losing said motor-circuit at predetermined intervals, at yielding driving (mnnection between said eloek mechanism and one of said terminals, means l'or locking said terminals in contact during the operation of said clock mechanism, means controlled by said winding mechanism for releasing said terminals,

and means for latching said yielding terminal after it is released l'rom said other terminal.

S). The combination with clock mechanism, of winding mechanism therei'or including an electric motor, contact-terminals closed by the clock 'mechanism for complet ing said motor-circuit at predetermined intervals, and a cam-(mntaet carried by said winding mechanism for opening said circuit.

it). The combination with clock mechanism, of winding mechanism therefor including an electric motor, contact-terminals for closing said motorcircuit at predeterminedintervals, one of which terminals is carried by said clock mechanism,'and a cam-contact operated by said winding mechanism for open ing said circuit.

11. The combination with clockmechanism, of winding npchanism therefor including an electric motor, contact-terminals for closing said-motor-circuit at predetermined intervals, one of which is carried by said clock mechanism and yieldingly connected therewith, and a cam+contact operated by said winding mechanism for opening said cir-' cuit.

12. The combination with clock mechanism, of winding mechanism therefor including an electric motor having branch circuits, contact-terminals for closing said motor-circuit at predetermined intervals one of which terminals is carried by said clock mechanism, and a cam operated by said winding mechanism, said cam having meansv cooperating therewith for closing a branch circuit while the motor-circuit is closed through said contact-terminals and for subsequently opening said branch circuit.

13. The combination with clock mechanism, of means for automatically winding the same comprising an electric motor, means for closing the circuit of said motor to wind said mechanism after a predeterminedamount of spring is uncoiled, means whereby said spring further uncoils to drive said clock mechanism upon the failure ol' said motor to operate, and means whereby the clock mechanism is positivclystopped after said further nncoil.

14. The combination with clock mechanism, ol" means for automatically winding the same comprising an electric motor, means for closing the circuit ol said motor to wind said mechanism after a predetermined amount of spring is uncoiled, means whereby said spring lurther uncoils to drive said clock mechanism upon the failure of said motor to operate, means whereby the energy expended by the said lurther nncoil immediately restored when the motor operates, and means whereby the clock mechanism is positively stopped alter said further uncoilv 15. The combination with clock mechanism, oi' winding mechanism therefor including an electric motor, mmtact-terminals for closing said motin-circuit at predetm'mined intervals, a yielding driving connection be tween said clock mechanism and one of the said terminals, means for locking said terminals against relative lateral movement until the clock has been wound, driving connections between said other terminal and said winding, mechanism whereby said terminals are unlocked and separated laterally, and means for returning said terminals to contacting position after a predetermined movement oi said winding mechanism.

16. The combination with clock mechanism, of winding meclmnism therefor includ ing an electric motor having a-niain and auto iliary circuit, contact-terminals for closing the main circuit at predetermined in vats, means operated by said winding mechanism ITO said mechanism, l and means for 0 said mechanism with the motor-circuit closed and means for fully winding said mec at the endof said second period upon the 40 said. mechanism,

and means in connection therewith for simulful taneously closing the auxiliary circuit and for opemng the auxiliary circu1t after a predeterminedmovement of said windingmechamsm.

17. The combination with clock mechanism of means for automatically winding the same comprising an electric motor, means for periodical closing the motor-circuit to wind crating after the ex iration of a period upon failure of said wind ing means to operate.

18. The. combination with clock mechanism of means for automatically winding the same comprising an electric motorymeans for periodical y closing the motor-circuit to wind said mechanism, means mechanism for a further period upon the failure of current at the. end of said first eriod, anism restoration of current.

19. The combination with clock mechanism ofmeans for automatically winding the same coin means for operating said eriod with the motor-cirlie failure of said winding 20; The combination ith clock mechansame comprising an electric motor, means for periodically closing the motor-circuit to wind means for operating said mechanism for a further period with the mofor operating said and opei. through t I rising anelectric motor, means for, periodical y closing the motor circuit to wind 0? said mechanism,

mcchaniSm for a gcuit-closed upon t ime'chani'sm to operate, and means for pos1- tively stop ing said mecl 'anism at the end of 5isaid period? 1 branch to start on the failure of current st eriod, and means for 1y winding said mec said second period upon the restoration of current. l

21. The combination with clock mechanism of means for automatically winding the tor-circuit closed u at the end of said same comprising an electric motor, means for periodically closing the motor-circuit to wind said mechanism, means for operating said mechanism for 'a'further eriod upon the failure of current at the end of said first period, means for positively stopping said mechanism at the end of said second period, and means for fully winding said mechanism at the end of saidsecond period upon the restoration of current.

22. The combination with clock mechanism of winding mechanism therefor including an electric motor having branch circuitsonc of which is closed by the clock mechanism and the other by the winding mechanism, and means whereby the motor-circuit is periodically closed throu h the former branch 16 latter.

23. The combination with clock mechanism of winding, mechanism therefor including an electric motor havin r branch circuits one of-whichis closedby t e clock mechanism and the other by the winding mechanism, means for periodically closing the former the motor, and means for closing the latter branch and opening the former upon the starting of the motor.

1 In witness whereof Lhave hereunto set my hand this 12th day of July, 1905.

GEORGE H. RUPLEY.

anism at the end of 

